White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Dennis J. Goodyear, 69 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died on Thursday, March 8, 2012, at his home in Independence.  He was born on January 25, 1943, in Hampton, Iowa, the son of Jay and Leona B. (Steelman) Goodyear.  He graduated from high school in Decorah, Iowa, with the Class of 1961, and then attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.  On May 26, 1983, he and the former Maxine A. VanPelt were married at the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  Before retiring, Mr. Goodyear was a Chevrolet truck service manager in Waterloo.  He was very outgoing and truly, never met a stranger.  He was always working on a  mechanical or carpentry project for himself or others.  Mr. Goodyear also had a family tradition of providing cotton candy at special events.  Every 4th of July he would set up his cotton candy machine and provide free treats for the entire neighborhood.

Mr. Goodyear is survived by his wife, Maxine, 4 daughters, Debra Horte of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Deann (Dennis) Meyer of Chilton, Wisconsin, Dannice (Kevin) Kolbe of Rowley, Iowa, and Dannell (Steve) Price of Independence, Iowa, 3 sons, Christopher Lonergan of Lebanon, Missouri, Devon Goodyear of Houston, Texas, and Shad (Vicki) Lonergan of Evansdale, Iowa.  He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 1 brother, Ronald (Ginger) Goodyear of Decorah, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sons, David Goodyear and Patrick Lonergan, 1 brother, David Goodyear, and 1 sister, Debra Goodyear.

Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 12, 2012, at the White Funeral Home in Independence, Iowa, with the Rev. Sue Ann Raymond officiating.  The family will greet friends after 9 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home.  Mr. Goodyear’s cremated remains will be buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Cedar Falls, Iowa.